Protecting cushion for spectacle cases



July '14, 1936. w. T. .SPRO LL 2,047,652

PROTECTING CUSHION FOR SPECTACLE CASES Filed April 4, 1935 all! &\\\\Mll- 3mm ML /6 if. T Sproull Patented July 14, 1936 PROTECTING CUSHIONFOR SPECTACLE CASES Wayne T. Sproull, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 4, 1935, Serial No. 14,729

1 Claim.

This invention relates to eyeglass cases and more particularly to ameans. combined with a conventional eyeglass or spectacle case wherebythe lenses in the case will be prevented from being broken when the caseis dropped.

An object of this invention is to provide a protecting means in the formof a pair of cushions adapted to be mounted in a spectacle case, thecushions being so constructed as to yieldably contact with the lenses soas to yieldably hold the lenses within the case and thus preventbreaking of the lenses when the case has been dropped.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of cushioningmembers which are so constructed that they may be readily mounted in anyof the cases at present in use so that the cushioning members may besold as a separate article of manufacture and applied to conventionalcases by either the purchaser or the dealer at the time of the sale ofthe article.

'The above and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill in part be described in, and in part be understood from thefollowing detail description of the present preferred embodiment, thesame being illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:-

Figure 1 is a detailed plan view of a conventional spectacle case inopen position having a cushioning means constructed according to anembodiment of this invention mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover cushioning member.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lower cushioning member.

Figure 4 .is a longitudinal section taken substantially through thecenter of the two cushioning members removed from the case and disposedin confronting position.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral ldesignates generally a spectacle case comprising a bottom or baseportion I l, and a lid or closure l2, which is hinged, as at [3, to thelower or base portion I l. The spectacle case I0, here shown, is aconventional spectacle case having a hinged lid or cover and, as shown,is only one of a number of different types of case with which thehereinafter described may be combined.

In order to provide a means whereby the spectacles when disposed in thecase ID will beprevented from being broken when the case In is droppedor, otherwise jarred, I have provided a pair of cushioning members,generally designated as M and 15.

The cushioning member 14 is adapted to be disposed in the lower baseportion H and the cushioning member I is adapted. to be attached to theinside surface of the lid or cover I2. The cushioning member I4comprises a strip of rubber 5 or other yieldable or shock absorbingmaterial 16, provided with a pair of lens receiving recesses ll disposedin spaced relation to each other and inwardly of the opposite ends ofthe cushioning member 56. The cushioning or shock absorbin member i5 isconstructed of substantially the same character of material as thecushioning member Hi and is provided with reduced lens receivingportions 18 which are spaced apart and disposed in a position toconfront the recessed portions ll of the lower or base cushioning memberHi. The two cushioning or shock absorbing members 14 and I5 may beapplied to the inside surface of the case It by any suitable adhesivemeans. Where the two cushioning members I4 20 and i5 are applied to thepresent construction of a case, the two members l4 and I5 are glued orcemented to the fabric lining, usually provided in the case It].

It will be understood, however, that where the cushioning members l4 andI5 are applied at the factory, the usual felt or plush lining may bedispensed with and the cushioning members applied directly to thesurface of the material of which the case I0 is constructed. The tworecesses I1 in the lower cushioning member I4 provide a raised centralportion l9 and the two reduced portions [8 of the upper cushioningmember l4 provide a central raised portion 20 which is adapted toconfront the raised central portion I9 5 and engage the bridge of thespectacles on opposite sides thereof so that substantially the entireframe and construction of the spectacles will be cushioned within thecase and will be pre-' vented from movement relative to the case, when40 the case has been dropped. In this manner, the case It can besubjected to exceedingly rough treatment without breaking of the lenses.

By providing the lens recesses l'! between the ends of the member l4,there are provided raised end portions 2| which act as supporting meansfor the opposite ends of the lenses and the frame of the lenses.Preferably the upper cushioning member i5 is of a length substantiallyequal to the distance between the inside edges of the raised portions 2|so that the ends of the upper cushioning member 15 will contact with thesurface of the lenses, rather than the edges of the eyeglass frame.

It is, of course, understood that various changes of, one of saidcushioning members comprising a yieldable member having a pair of spacedapart lens receiving openings disposed one on each side of the center ofthe member and inwardly of the ends of the member, the other cushioningmember having reduced opposite end portions adapted to confront the lensreceiving recesses of said one cushioning member, the central portionsof each member adapted to contact with each other when the case isclosed to yieldably engage the bridge 10 of the spectacles.

WAYNE T. SPROULL.

